Here are 4 things to remember when you’re having a bad day. It’s worth starting by admitting:

1. It’s bad.

Don’t kid yourself. It’s worthless trying to justify why it is infact a good day. It’s not. You know it’s a bad day. Owning and accepting it, in itself, allows for the possibility of turning things around.

The truth is it’s a bad day. That’s just fact. The deeper question is, why?

For this day to be bad you must have had an expectation of how the day was supposed to go, and it evidently did not pan out that way.

It’s natural in today society to have a certain level of expectation, unconsciously or consciously. And, for whatever reason, it’s gone all wrong.

That was not under your control. What is, however, is how you react, and what you do from here on.

There are two questions you could proceed with when you are fully aware you’re having a bad day:

The notion of living a simple life, for many, is automatically associated with living a life that is somewhat unsuccessful; a life that is peaceful but not what we are fully capable of experiencing as flourished humans.

It has been my experience that the complete opposite is true.

There are some common misconceptions that I often come across which are worth addressing:

Misconception #1: The desire for simplicity is ultimately a desire born out of learned helplessness.

That is to say: “There’s no point living an extravagant life. It’s too hard, and not worth even trying”.

False: The desire for simplicity is born out of the maturity to be able to see that material extravagance is no match for inner majesty.

Peace and joy become priorities, and they are known to be influenced by value such as wonder, curiosity, relationships, appreciation, recreation, the arts and others alike – none of which require the acquisition of popular products.

Simplicity is never due to the anticipation of failure, it is welcomed because what is deemed as ‘success’ the the eyes of today’s commercial society seems useless. It simply does not achieve the result we are looking for.[Read more…]

noun: vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.

We all love music.

It brings such a serenity to our ears. Such joy.

And we can notice music all around us.

It’s not about which speakers are in our vicinity. But rather, which aren’t.

Where do we not find sources of audible beauty?

Have you heard the screech of one who has received a surprise gift or event?

What about the laughter of a newborn?

The caressing of wind over the tree’s new leaves.

Have you ever been indoors on a rainy day, unable to avoid the voice of rain; playing eloquently, persistently, passionately over the cemented base?

The song of the birds on a delightfully warm morning.

Snows’ visual album; silent with audio yet explosive on stage.

The disorganised elegance of an audience’s applause; the hands’ representation of appreciation, acknowledgement and celebration.

The performance of life itself is music to our ears. If only we were to notice it, absorb it and value it.

There is such reverence to be found in the human voice, whether it be composed to structural perfection or exposed by natures’ own intentions – through soft words, surprised outbursts, screaming, saying, screeching or even silence.

Likewise, the instruments of nature; the clashing of materials and objects, the unison between unrehearsed hands connecting in groups. This is music to be recognised. To be adored.